The History of Lilla Brattön

Welcome to Elvira's Archipelago Restaurant

By now, you probably know that Lilla Brattön was transformed into a holiday island when SKF's founder, Sven Wingqvist, donated the island, which he owned together with his wife Hildur, to the workers of the company he founded in connection with his 50th birthday in December 1926.

It's almost a hundred years ago. Holiday islands didn't exist back then. There was hardly any such thing as a holiday to speak of. And getting to Lilla Brattön in Hakefjorden, just outside Stenungsund, wasn't a 30-minute drive from Gothenburg like it is today. It was a proper journey into the unknown, out into the countryside and the sea.

In the summer of 1928, the island was taken over by SKF's workshop club. The club's chairman, Bror Nilsson, took charge of the practical arrangements with the other members of the board. Transport was organised and furniture was acquired for the existing dwellings. However, in the beginning, much of it was makeshift.

The first summer it was difficult to get people to visit the island. And often one was met with the argument that it was irresponsible to attract ordinary people to a deserted island where there was neither water nor milk.

Brother included his wife Elvira in the work to, if possible, make Lilla Brattön pleasant. She took care of all the things the men likely hadn't thought of. Such as arranging beds and bedding, urging on the men on the board, and not least, procuring food and drink.

Many are the tales of Elvira's struggles to arrange food for the guests on Lilla Brattön. She negotiated with dairy farmers, made impromptu shopping trips to Stenungsund by rowing boat, and haggled with reluctant skippers who absolutely did not want to take a trip via Lilla Brattön. Elvira went to great lengths to ensure people had a good time here on our island.

Although it improved somewhat over time, and butchers and farmers voluntarily came to the island with their goods, it wasn't until 14 years later, in the summer of 1942, that talk began of a restaurant on Lilla Brattön. This time too, it was on a whim of Sven Wingqvist, who stated to Bror Nilsson:

It's utterly ridiculous. Here you are, lying about in the meadows having a lazy day while your wives have to toil and struggle with cooking and other chores when they so desperately need to rest.

And so it was done, a restaurant was funded and completed, and today it bears Elvira Nilsson's name in honour of her and all others who made the effort to make this wonderful place a home.

Just as we always have, we now serve good, hearty food produced from local ingredients.